The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-01-14
NIOSBY is MAD,

Because of an Attempt tn Bribc Him While
He Was Winning Military Fame.
W ashingto Special.
The hottest man in Washington, tonight. is
Col. John S. Mosby, the famous ex-confederate
cavalry commander. Mosby is here adjusting
his accounts consul at Hong Kong, and trying
to collect sc, 600, which he claims the governments
owes him. He is also engaged in the preparation
of volume Of "reminiscences, and has been
delvirg extensively into the archives of the War
Department. While there this morning clerk
said to him:
''Colonel, do you know there was an effort to
buy you off during the warp
What do you mean?" asked Mosby.
The clerk then drew out bundle of papers,
which made Mosby's eyes gleam with their old
time fire. These remarkable dispatches are az
follows:
HEADQUARTEes CAVALRY CORPS June II 1863
General r. ingalls,. chief quarsermaster:
Your dispatch received Ask the general how
much of a bribe he stand to get Mosbys
servicesl There is chance for him. and iust
now he could dc valuable service in the way Of
information, as we'll as humbugging the enemy.
There is news The rebels are like that boy
the President tells about. who stumped his toe
and was too big to cry. Birney is up.
A PLEAsANToN, brigadier-g general.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE PoroMAc
June y. 1868.
General Pleasanton:
If you think your scheme can succeed in re-
gard to Mosby, do no. hesitate as to the matter
of money. Use your own Judgment and do pre-
cisely what you think best for the public interest.
RUFUS INGALLS,, brgadier general
When Mosby had read them he said:
This is infamous"
He then took copies of the dispatches In con-
versaton, to night he said he meant to go to
the bottom of this business. and to expose the
slander on his character He said he never
dreamed of the existence of such papers until
today, and that there never tho slightest
hint of the nature of negotiation with the North
ern army made to him during the war. The dis
patches were written the day before Popo's dis
astrous defeat by Stonewall jackson and Long
street at the second battle OF Bull Run, and it
is believed emanated from Pope's head
quarters. Pleasanton was then IN COM
mand Of the cavalry iii Hooker's division.
and Rufus ingalls, was quartermaster- general Of
the federal army Only three days before Pleas
anton and J. E. B. Stuart had fought the blood
lest cavalry engagement OF the war, at Brandy
station, in which neither side could claim the
victory. Mosby bore conspicuous part in that
engagement, and that at the time of Pleasanton's
dispatch to Ingalls, Mosby was harrassing Hook
er's rear. Hooker was en- the north bank Of the
Rappahannock and Lee was moving toward
Pennsylvania, moking his way toward Gettys-
| burg, where, three weeks later, the Confederaoy
received its death blow. just at the time Of this
correspondence between Pleasanton and In
gals. however, Lees star was in the ascendant,
| aud if Mosby had been willing TO be-
tray the confederate causs it is not likely
| that he would have chosen such time. His
| friends and comrades IN Washington share his
Indignation at the insinuation that he was ready
to become the Benedict Arnold of the Confed-
eracv. and express their absolute confdencein his
devotion to the lost cause. just what course
/ Colonel Mosby will pursue in tafs matter ne
does not indicate further than to declare mis- in
! tention TO show the utter falsity OF the imputa-
/ tion on his honor. rs
i General Pleasspton is living In w Washngton In
| reduced circumstances Your correspondent
sought him tonight to get his version Of tho re-
| markabla story. but was unable TO ind him.
General Rufus Ingalls, is on the retired list Of